The Patriots need a new punter after announcing the release of Jake Bailey on Friday.

Bailey, a fifth-round pick in 2019, was coming off his worst season in Foxboro. He ranked dead last in average and net average among players with more than 10 punts.

He was a first-team All-Pro his rookie season, but looked nothing like that player last season. The Patriots were proactive in signing him to a four-year $13.5 million extension prior to last season (making him the NFL’s highest-paid punter at the time), but didn’t exactly get the best bang for their buck.

He wound up on injured reserve last year with a back problem, then was hit with a team-imposed suspension. So there were issues on both sides.

Michael Palardy, who was signed last year to a one-year deal, wasn’t very good after taking over for Bailey late in the year.

So the Patriots will be looking for a punter, either in free agency, or the draft. One name to keep an eye on is Rutgers’ Adam Korsak, who won the Ray Guy Award as the top punter in college football.

Since Bailey also had kickoff duties, the Pats will need someone to perform that role as well.

Kicker Nick Folk, who took over the kickoffs after Bailey’s midseason injury, doesn’t have the leg for it.

His inability to produce touchbacks hurt the Patriots, who allowed an NFL-high three kickoff return touchdowns. All three came on Folk kickoffs.

KAREN GUREGIAN